Nutrition

Proper nutrition is important to optimize blood production and maintain general
overall health.

Persons
with bone marrow failure disease should always consult with their treating
physician before changing their diet.

Health Goals are related to
nutrition – your diet matters!

A balanced diet is important
to maintaining health and well-being. It is important for bone marrow failure
diseases patients to maintain a healthy diet before and after treatment, but
especially important while treatment is taking place. This is to minimize
impact of treatment side-effects and to fight treatment-related fatigue.

Maintain a healthy weight.

Your body mass index (BMI) should be between 19-25. If you
are uncertain of your BMI, you can find more information from the National Institutes of Health.

Know your waist circumference! Men should be under 40 inches
(102 cm), Women should be under 35 inches (89 cm)

Base your diet on sensible portions of minimally processed
foods.

Eat a variety of vegetables,
fruits, whole grains, and legumes. Focus on foods high in vitamins minerals, as well as fiber, protein,
and energy!

Eat
mostly foods of a plant origin, and eat a variety of colors to ensure you are
meeting nutrient needs

If
you or your loved one have been diagnosed with a bone marrow failure disease,
or have recently undergone a bone marrow transplant, this can lead to a weakened
immune system, which can create special dietary concerns.

If
you have a very low neutrophil count (low white blood cell count), ask your
doctor about a special diet called a neutropenic diet. This diet helps you
limit exposure to bacteria and fungus, which are normally present in food. This
will reduce your risk of getting a food-borne illness (food poisoning). If your
physician feels a neutropenic diet is best for you, consider consulting with a
dietician. Your physician’s office or local hospital can refer you to a
dietician in your area.

Tips to observe
while neutropenic

Do not eat blue
cheese or any cheeses that say "aged" on the label.

Only drink
beverages that have been pasteurized to kill germs. Milk you buy from the
supermarket is fine to drink. Avoid home-made fermented drinks, such as
homemade wine, cider, root beer, ale, vinegar, and non-pasteurized
milk.

Avoid
open buffets, salad bars, and crowded restaurants, where germs or bacterial
contamination could more easily contaminate your food. Do
not try free food samples.

Do
not eat raw or lightly cooked or soft-boiled eggs or raw vegetable sprouts

Wash and peel
fresh fruit and vegetables very well before eating them; also avoid raw
nuts.

Be sure to
refrigerate hot leftovers before they cool down to avoid bacterial
contamination.